Building panels

ABSTRACT

An improved building panel is provided composed, for example, of pre-cast concrete, and which includes a plurality of internal reinforcing rods, including several protruding from its edges, and one or more metallic sleeves protruding from its upper edge. Each of the sleeves has a truncated conical shape and is filled with a grouting compound to receive a corresponding reinforcing rod protruding down from the lower edge of an upper like panel so as to provide a firm joint between the panels.

[451 Sept. 19,1972

Unite States Patent Gilbert et a1.

Williams...................

[54] BUILDING PANELS [72] Inventors: A. Carlton Gilbert, 1450 S. 24th St.,

Phoenix, Ariz. 85036; John K. Parsons, 1528 E. Missouri, Phoenix, Ariz. 85014 .52/432 Great Britain...............52/251 ltaly.............................52/227 Italy ....52/259 m a .u r B t a m G 0304 566 9999 1111 5379 2467 7520 9 6 666 m a D n 0 9 m m. 2 2 2, S. c 7 U e 8 D 8 d w o. m N R w M. p F A 1] 21 2 2 [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 748,243, July Primary Examiner-John Munagh 29, 1968, abandoned, Attorney-Jessup & Beecher a c ai m3 e a dd m mm m O Pmmm m m Clm c-l. d m w o .1 S m w T 1 C wgd A .m n R md T m ms S amfe B c m A 2. ntr mmmm u l m wmem pmO d i w 0 m e N m m n u x r UAG DnD. 4 4 04Wm0 U 2 U 9 23 2 14 %E% al 2 2 W3 Lfl W6 a 5 .0200 4 ,5 H02 2E64 5 "BE ""2 a "M53 mnn5 unnz mmmfl Wmm mm8 "68 USB L21 C WM Umm. 1]] 2 8 555 [[1 sleeves protruding from its upper edge. Each of the [56] References cued sleeves has a truncated conical shape and is filled with UNITED ST PATENTS a grouting compound to receive a corresponding reinforcing rod protruding down from the lower edge of s k m .I u v g m E P g o .m t W S a a r 0 D S 7 d m an m Pm 0 6m 6 m e l m 8 m 8 w nfi ab 3 09 0 3222 /3// 2422 5/55 "2 "U "5 mm n n n admw mm r eo m MCSM 0 4 1122 9999 1.111 5 07 11 37200 8838 ,55 482 5090 ,3 Ill PATENTEDszmmz 3.691.710

sum 2 or 2 Anne/v6)?" BUILDING PANELS This application is a continuation-in-part of Copending Application Ser. No. 748,243 which was filed July 29, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many building structures are constructed to include pre-cast concrete wall panels for their exterior sides and interior walls. The wall panels usually include reinforcing rods, and they are held together in the frame of the structure between poured-in-place floor slabs to enclose the building and provide desired partitions. The utilization of the two concepts, namely, pre-cast wall panels and poured-in-place floor slabs is most economical, as compared with a structure in which both the walls and floor slabs are poured-in-place. This is because the walls can be installed much faster and with a far better surface finish than usual poured-in-place walls.

Problems have arisen inthe past when such pre-cast panels are used to form the outer sides of inner walls of a building. These problems arise because of the necessity that the sides and walls of the building be capable of withstanding high tension stresses resulting, for example, from wind loads and from seismic shocks and vibrations, which tend to overturn the building. The panels of the present invention are constructed so that they may be joined together to form the vertical outer sides or the interior walls of a building; the joints being such as to provide a strong and stable structure capable of withstanding high tensile stresses.

The desired results of the invention are achieved by pre-casting the individual panels with a multiplicity of reinforcing rods, formed of steel or other appropriate material, and which project from the upper and lower edges, for example, of the panels; and by pre-casting the individual panels with one or more truncated conical sleeves embedded in the panels and projecting upwardly from the upper edges thereof. The sleeves may be metallic, plastic, or composed of any other suitable material, compatible with structural concrete.

With such a construction for the individual panels, the first set of pre-cast panels may be positioned, for example, on the ground floor of the building structure, all with their frusto-conical sleeves projecting up from their upper edges, and with a plurality of reinforcing rods also extending up from their upper edges and bent-over at right angles to the plane of the panels, so as to extend into the plane of the adjacent floor slab. The slab constituting the first floor of the building may then be poured over the upper edges of the panels and around the bent-over reinforcing rods and around the projecting ends of the conical sleeves.

After the first floor slab has set, the conical sleeves of the first set of panels may be filled with an appropriate non-shrinking high strength grouting compound, and a second set of pre-cast panels may be positioned around the periphery of the first floor slab to enclose the first floor of the building, and other panels may be positioned across the slab to form interior wall positions. The reinforcing rods projecting down from the lower edges of the second set of panels are received in the grout-filled sleeves of the first set, through the floor slab, and the grouting compound is allowed to set. This procedure may be repeated for each successive floor of the building. The grouting compound may be formed,

for example, of a high strength Portland cement capable of withstanding 8,000-l0,000 p.s.i., as compared with the 3,000-5,000 p.s.i. withstanding capabilities of usual structural concrete. A suitable grounting compound, for example, is marketed by Master Builders Co., under the trade name Embeco and it includes iron filings.

When the grouting compound has set in the aforesaid sleeves, a strong bond is established between it and the projecting reinforcing rods. On the other hand, there is normally a poor bond between the grouting compound and the interior surface of the individual sleeves. However, the conical shape of the sleeves establishes a wedging action which prevents the grouting compound from being pulled out from the sleeves, after it has set, by tensile forces established by the reinforcing rods.

A strong joint is thereby provided through the floor slab between the panels of the second set and the panels of the first set when the panels are constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention, and this applies to each successive set of the panels. The established joints between the aforesaid panels, moreover, are capable of withstanding the overturning forces of high tensile stresses which occurred due to seismic or wind loads, for example.

It will be appreciated, of course, that the aforesaid sleeves need not necessarily be of a frusto-conical shape, but may have any other suitable configuration which serves to prevent the grouting compound from being pulled out of the sleeves after it has set. For example, the sleeves may have circumferential corrugations, or other shapes, so as to provide a firm coupling between the cast grouting compound and the corresponding sleeves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A pre-cast reinforced concrete building panel is provided with one or more frusto-conical sleeves extending in coplanar relationship with the panel and projecting through its upper edge. The panel is also provided with a first plurality of reinforcing rods aligned with respective ones of the sleeves and extending in coplanar relationship with the panel and projecting from its lower edge, and with a further plurality of reinforcing rods which extend across the panel in coplanar relationship therewith adjacent the frusta-conical sleeves, and through the upper edge of the panel to be bent-over and to extend into the adjacent floor slab. In a further embodiment, the panel includes coils around the reinforcing rods of the first plurality to prevent excessive stressing of the concrete adjacent such rods, and further reinforcing rods extending in coplanar relationship with the panel and across the panel in a direction traversing the direction of the aforementioned reinforcing rods adjacent the lower edge of the panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a building structure in which pre-cast concrete panels are used to constitute the sides thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of a pre-cast concrete panel constructed to incorporate the concepts of the present invention;

FIG.3 is a side section of a portion of the side wall of a building, and which utilizes panels incorporating the concepts of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective representation of a pre-cast concrete panel incorporating reinforcing rods and constructed to incorporate the concepts of the invention in a further embodiment; and

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are side and end views respectively of a coil member which is used to surround certain of the reinforcing rods in the concrete panel of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS As described briefly above, when a structural building panel of the type described herein is placed in position as part of a vertical wall of a building structure, a concrete floor slab may be cast over the projecting parts of its frustdconical sleeve, and over the projecting bent-over ends of the reinforcing rods in the panel. Another such panel may then be placed over the floor slab with its downwardly projecting rods 1 extending down through the floor slab and into the frusto-conical sleeves of the lower panel. The frusto-conical sleeves, asr'n'entioned above, are filled with a grouting compound so that the panels may be securely held in place whereby the resulting sides and interior walls of the building make the building able to withstand the overturning efiects of high wind and seismic loads. As also mentioned, the conical configuration of the sleeves, or its equivalent, prevent the grouting compound from being drawn up out of the sleeves as a tension stress is set up between the panels. v I

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, a building may be constructed to have side walls made up of a series of pre-cast concrete building panels designated l0, l2 and 14 on one side, and having like pre-cast concrete panels 16,18 and on an adjacent side. The panels are pre-cast, as mentioned above, and are positioned between the successive floor slabs, such as the slabs 22 and 24.

Each of the building panels may be constructed to incorporate the concepts of the present invention, such as a panel designated 50 in FIG. 2. The panel 50, as mentioned above, may be formed of concrete and precast to incorporate a plurality of reinforcing rods "(not shown). In addition, a pair of reinforcing rods 52 and 54 are embedded in the panel and extend down from the lower edge of the panel.

Also, a pair of sleeves 56 and 58 is embedded in the panel, and the sleeves project through the upper edge of the panel. The sleeves 56 and 58 are hollow, and are formed of appropriate sheet metal, for example, or of any other appropriate material compatible with structural concrete. For building convenience, and so as to permit the panels to be positioned in vertical alignment, the sleeve 56 may be aligned with the reinforcing rod 52, and the sleeve 58 may be aligned with the reinpanels are so arranged with their sleeves 56 and 58 projecting upwardly through their upper edges. Then a horizontal floor slab, such as the slab 22 is formed around the projecting sleeves 56 and 58 of the individual panels, and over the top edges of the panels. When the floor slab has set, a second row of vertical panels may be positioned around its periphery and across the slab, for example, to enclose and form partitions for the first floor of the building. As mentioned above, this process may be repeated for each successive floor of the building.

In each instance, the reinforcing rods 52 and 54 of each successive vertical panel extends down into the sleeves 56 and 58 of the next lower vertical panel. The sleeves are filled with an appropriate adhesive grouting compound. It will be appreciated that when the grouting compound sets, the upper vertical panels in each instance are securely and rigidly locked to the lower vertical panels, above and below the corresponding horizontal floor slab. As explained briefly above, the grouting compound forms a secure bond with the reinforcing rods 52 and 54 of the upper vertical panel. However, there is a tendency for the grouting compound to be pulled out of the sleeve in the lower vertical panel in the presence of excessive tension stresses, after the grouting compound has set. This tendency is overcome in the assembly of the present invention by providing the sleeves 56, 58 with the illustrated configuration, or its equivalent, so that a wedging action is established, and the grouting compound is firmly retained in the individual sleeves. With such a construction, a strong and stable structure is provided which is capable of withstanding high loads. As indicated above, other configurations of the sleeves 56 and 58 may be used to achieve the above-described purpose.

In the fragmentary view of FIG. 3, the panel 50 of FIG. 2 is shown as positionedbelow a second similar panel 50. A floor slab 60 has been set between the two panels and around the projecting portion of the frustoconical sleeve 56 in the panel 50. The reinforcing rod 52 of the upper panel extends down into the grouting compound 62 in the sleeve 56, so that a firm bond is established between the two panels.

The panels may be further bonded to the floor slabs by means of shear rods or dowels 80. These shear dowels may be of the same material and diameter as the metallic reinforcing rods 52 and 54. The shear dowels extend into voids 82, which are filled with grouting compound 84, which may be like the grouting compound 62. The shear dowels tremendously increase the resistance of the resulting walls to shear stresses which would otherwise tend to strip the panels from the floor slab. Since the shear dowels do not extend through the floor slab there is no need to sleeve the lower wall panel. This results in a relatively inexpensive construction, yet one which exhibits superior shear-resisting characteristics, as compared with prior art structures of the same general type.

The panel 50 of FIG. 4 is generally similar to the panel 50 of FIG. 2, and like elements have been designated by the same numbers. However, in the latter panel additional reinforcing rods 34 extend through the panel, as shown in coplanar relationship therewith and on either side of the rod 52 and sleeve 56, and on either side of the rod 54 and the sleeve 58. The reinforcing rods 34 protrude up through the upper edge of the panel and are bent-over at essentially 90 so as to extend through the adjacent floor slab additionally to serve to bond the panel and the floor slab together.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the rods 52 and 54, as well as the shear dowels 80 are surrounded by coils 31 which may have the construction shown in FIGS. 5-7. Additionally, a pair of reinforcing rods 11 extend across the panel 501 adjacent its lower edge on opposite sides of the coils 31, and in transverse relationship with the reinforcing rods 34, as well as the rods 52, 54 and dowels 80.

The principal function of the coil 31 is to transfer the horizontal lateral force generated, for example, in the upper panel into the corresponding reinforcing rods 52 or 54 or dowel 80, and thence into the adjacent floor slab, and of achieving this without unduly stressing the concrete in the upper panel in the areas adjacent the dowels 80 or reinforcing rods 52 and 54, which undue stress could otherwise cause the contiguous concrete to fail. Once the lateral shear stress has been transferred from the upper panel into the floor slab, it is then transmitted downward into the lower panel through the bent reinforcing bars or rods 34. The transmitted lateral shear is also reinforced by the friction between the surfaces of the floor slab and the adjacent edge of the lower panels.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the coils 31 may be equipped with vertical side bars 33 which are welded to the sides of the coil. These vertical bars are not essential, however they do serve to assist in the transmittal of the distribution of force from the surrounded dowel 80 or reinforcing rod 52 or 54 to the adjacent concrete face.

The invention provides, therefore, a simple and inexpensive assembly whereby pre-cast concrete panels, and the like, may be rigidly and firmly bonded together. The assembly of the invention is particularly advantageous in that the resulting structure is capable of withstanding to a high degree the overturning shocks and vibrations caused by earthquakes, and also to withstand the overturning loads produced by high winds.

In other words, the concept of the present invention provides for a continuous vertical tension tie between the panels and the adjacent floor slabs from top to bottom of the building so as to resist the overturning tension created by lateral forces and the like. The reinforcing rods 11 additionally serve to reinforce the area of the panel adjacent the lower edge.

It is evident that the invention may also be employed to interlock one vertical structural member directly to another, rather than through an intermediate floor slab,

if so desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a vertically positioned building panel having an essentially rectangular configuration and formed of concrete, or the like, and at least one hollow sleeve embedded in said panel and projecting out from a first edge of said panel to permit a horizontal floor slab to be cast adjacent said first edge to extend across said first edge and around the projecting portion of said hollow sleeve, said hollow sleeve to be filled Yo i-liilf ffh ififlififi fSESX fs llilll panel, said sleeve having a frusto-conical shape so as to retain the grouting compound therein in the presence of tensile stresses exerted on said reinforcing rod, and which includes a reinforcing rod in axial alignment with said sleeve and projecting out from the opposite edge of said panel to be received in the frusto-conical hollow sleeve of a further like panel; and a plurality of reinforcing rods extending transversely through said panel adjacent said sleeve and essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, said last-mentioned plurality of reinforcing rods extending through said first edge of said panel and each having a bent over end portion extending substantially horizontally to project into the horizontal floor slab.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, and which further includes a floor slab of predetermined thickness extending across said first edge of said panel, said hollow sleeve projecting out from said first edge an amount corresponding to the thickness of said floor slab and extending through said floor slab, and the bent over end portions of said plurality of reinforcing rods extending into said floor slab.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes a floor slab of predetermined thickness extending across the opposite edge of the panel, and at least one shear dowel projecting out from the opposite edge of said panel and into said floor slab, said dowel having a length less than said predetermined thickness of said floor slab.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes a coil embedded in said panel and surrounding the first-named reinforcing rod to relieve undue stressing of the material of said panel in the presence of forces having components perpendicular to the plane of said panel.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, and which includes reinforcing rods extending across said panel on either side of the aforesaid coil and adjacent said opposite edge of said panel.

6. The combination defined in claim 3, and which includes a coil embedded in said panel and surrounding said dowel. 

1. In combination, a vertically positioned building panel having an essentially rectangular configuration and formed of concrete, or the like, and at least one hollow sleeve embedded in said panel and projecting out from a first edge of said panel to permit a horizontal floor slab to be cast adjacent said first edge to extend across said first edge and around the projecting portion of said hollow sleeve, said hollow sleeve to be filled with a grouting compound and to receive a reinforcing rod projecting from the opposite edge of a second like panel, said sleeve having a frusto-conical shape so as to retain the grouting compound therein in the presence of tensile stresses exerted on said reinforcing rod, and which includes a reinforcing rod in axial alignment with said sleeve and projecting out from the opposite edge of said panel to be received in the frusto-conical hollow sleeve of a further like panel; and a plurality of reinforcing rods extending transversely through said panel adjacent said sleeve and essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, said last-mentioned plurality of reinforcing rods extending through said first edge of said panel and each having a bent over end portion extending substantially horizontally to project into the horizontal floor slab.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1, and which further includes a floor slab of predetermined thickness extending across said first edge of said panel, said hollow sleeve projecting out from said first edge an amount corresponding to the thickness of said floor slab and extending through said floor slab, and the bent over end portions of said plurality of reinforcing rods extending into said floor slab.
 3. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes a floor slab of predetermined thickness extending across the opposite edge of the panel, and at least one shear dowel projecting out from the opposite edge of said panel and into said floor slab, said dowel having a length less than said predetermined thickness of said floor slab.
 4. The combination defined in claim 1, and which includes a coil embedded in said panel and surrounding the first-named reinforcing rod to relieve undue stressing of the material of said panel in the presence of forces having components perpendicular to the plane of said panel.
 5. The combination defined in claim 4, and which includes reinforcing rods extending across said panel on either side of the aforesaid coil and adjacent said opposite edge of said panel.
 6. The combination defined in claim 3, and which includes a coil embedded in said panel and surrounding said dowel. 